What Is a Group of 5 Called? An Overview of Musical Ensembles

A single unit consisting of five members contributing to the same musical arrangement is called a quintet. Igor Bulgarin / Shutterstock

Ever heard a song performed by five singers or seen a table set for five and wondered, "What is a group of five called?"

The answer is simple and musical: A musical group with five members is called a quintet.

The Word Quintet: A Group of Five

band — Not all quintets play classical music. Aija Lehtonen / Shutterstock

The word "quintet" refers to any set or group of five people or things. Quintets are commonly found in music, performance, literature, and even team settings. It’s one of several collective nouns used to describe similarly numbered groups, such as:

trio (three)
quartet (four)
sextet (six)
septet (seven)
octet (eight)
nonet (nine)

"Quintet" is often used to describe five singers, musicians, or similarly grouped performers, but can also refer to related objects or even conceptual groupings like five elements or voices in a debate.

Quintets in Classical and Modern Music

choir — A quintet can consist entirely of vocalists. Kratt Natalia / Shutterstock

Music is where the term shines. A musical quintet typically includes five instruments or vocalists. These ensembles perform compositions written specifically for five parts.

String quintet: Typically consists of a standard string quartet (two violins, one viola, one cello) plus an extra viola (or occasionally an extra cello). Examples include works by Mozart and Schubert.
Piano quintet: Combines a piano with a string quartet. Johannes Brahms’s Piano Quintet in F minor is a famous example.
Clarinet quintet: Features a clarinet with a string quartet. Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A major (K. 581) is widely regarded as one of the most famous and important works written for clarinet and string quartet
Wind quintet: Refers to the standard woodwind quintet of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn.

These ensembles reflect the harmony of five musical voices blending into a single piece.

Variations Across Genres

Outside classical music, a group of five musicians might be called a "band" or a "group," especially in pop, rock, or jazz. A jazz quintet, for example, might include a trumpet, saxophone, piano, bass, and drums.

Vocal quintets—groups of five singers—are common in a cappella and choral music. Each singer might take one vocal range: soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass.

Other Types of Quintets

In broader use, the term "quintet" can describe:

A team of five performers or athletes
Five related objects, such as a set of books or paintings
A symbolic grouping, like the five classical elements or five key characters in a story

Terms like "ensemble," "squad," "team," or "unit" can also apply, depending on the context.

Synonyms and Casual Alternatives

While "quintet" is the formal term, people also often use:

Group of five: General and common
Team: Especially in sports or business
Squad: Informal and popular in youth or pop culture
Band: Musical context
Crew: Slang for a close group of friends

Some even refer to such a group as a "pack" or "gang," depending on tone and context.

When to Use Quintet vs. Other Terms

Use "quintet" when:

Referring to music written for five instruments or voices
Describing a formal or artistic group of five
Writing about structured ensembles, such as a string or piano quintet

Use alternatives like "group," "team," or "crew" for casual, non-artistic contexts.

In reference materials like Wikipedia or concert programs, you’ll often see quintets listed by their exact instrumentation, such as "piano quintet" or "flute quintet." Writers may also describe the resulting ensemble or the music written for such a group.

So whether you’re scoring music, gathering five performers, or describing five related objects, "quintet" is your go-to term—elegant, specific, and rooted in centuries of musical tradition.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.